Welcome to Mid Town Toronto for the Fit and Health Conscious

We know a great city when we see one. Toronto isn't just ranked among the top cities in the world because of its abundant opportunities, livability, spirit of innovation, and cosmopolitan appeal. What really makes Toronto a wonderful place to live, is its strong and vibrant neighborhoods, art, culture, great cafes, restaurants, and outdoor activities that seem to be everywhere.

If you're looking to buy a home in the Midtown area of Toronto, you'll sure to be joining a healthy array of mature neighbourhoods like Forest Hill, Yorkville, Rosedale, South Hill, and Summerhill, to name just a few.

These communities are teaming with wonderful family-friendly activities, fitness gyms, healthy restaurants and convenient outdoor accommodations that is just waiting to be discovered.

Midtown has evolved into one of the most popular areas to live, work, and play. The area stretches from Bloor Street to the south, Lawrence Avenue to the north, Bayview Avenue to the east and Spadina/Bathurst to the west, encompassing Old Town and some of the region's robust business communities, cultural treasures and some of the area's most exclusive neighborhoods. No doubt, Midtown has something for everyone.

Consider the following about Midtown:

1. We have world class gyms: Whether you are just starting out or you're a professional athlete, you can find a number of great gyms around town including Equinox, the Granite Club, and others. The fitness accommodations are perfect for the on-the-go professional with numerous opportunities for fitness classes, including yoga, Pilates, and cycling. Track Fitness in Forest Hill, which has the best circuit classes I have ever been to, including great yoga, spin, and personal training is always on my weekly "to-do" list. Additionally, area residents can find opportunities for skating and swimming at places like the Granite Club, which is situated on a beautiful 22-acre site bordering Don Valley. If Yoga is more your scene, consider The Eco-friendly Roots Yoga Studio or the 889 Yoga studio that offer everything from Classical hatha to Teen Yoga classes.

2. Natural, Organic Grocery Stores, & Farmer's Markets: Midtown has an abundance of fresh produce and organic food stores, making eating healthy, easy and convenient. Whole Foods, Pusateries, and Noahs are all great examples of the choices we have in the immediate area and which I frequent often. The Evergreen Brick Works Farmer's market is one of my favorite places to pick up delicious fresh produce, free of pesticides and brought in by local farmers. I simply love shopping at this market! It celebrates everything that is great about our city - various diverse communities working together to offer sustainable products, GMO-free foods, and fair trade that benefit a thriving food economy.

3. Fitness and Recreational Equipment: We are fortunate to be able to have fitness and sports equipment and recreation providers in Midtown. Formost Fitness on Eglinton Avenue, which has been serving the community for over 15 years and have earned a great reputation for excellent customer service for residential and businesses clients.

4. Private Trainers: In this healthy, active town, you'll also find private trainers to help you get into shape and meet your fitness goals. Fight off stress and work towards your goals with one of the many trained fitness trainers. As someone who has spent considerable time as a professional fitness trainer, the opportunity to be fit and healthy with the help of professional can increase the quality of your life. Residents can take advantage of a variety of fitness programs offered by experts in their field. Places like the Running Room, which has running clinics and resources by their areas best runners are always available.

5. Highly rated healthy restaurants: Many of us enjoy setting off for weekly local gastronomical adventures. In Midtown there is no shortage of great choices to eat healthy. One of my favorites is Earth Rosedale, which changes its menu from season to season, always satisfies even the pickiest of palates.

6. Hiking Trails: Blessed with natural beauty, the local area is filled with great trails, including Don Valley Brick Works, a wonderful place for nature lovers, families, and kids. Here, visitors will find the Koerner Gardens, a 20,000 square foot area, which showcases sustainable urban greening and which serves to inspire cultivating home and community gardens. Additionally, Midtown also has beautiful and world class golf courses (Rosedale) where residents can enjoy themselves. I also love the variety of tennis clubs that are family-friendly and offer community events and classes.

Please visit http://www.tayaday.com for more information on Toronto neighbourhoods and real estate.

Cape Town Accommodation

Cape Town Accommodation offers world class facilities and amenities. It is little wonder that international conferences are selecting Cape Town as the host city for major conventions. In addition, South Africa's Mother City is regarded as one of the world's top destinations and 'must see' places to visit.

When you visit Cape Town, the selection of Accommodation will astound and surprise any person. Whether your purpose is leisure, business, educational, or a bit of all, establishments are categorised by areas within the Peninsula as well as by category. Options on offer include guest houses, B&B's, Self Catering Accommodation and hotel Accommodation.

Cape Town guest house and B&B accommodation offers a personalised touch with an element of privacy. Guests are accommodated in private en suite bedrooms and have full access to their hosts. The quality and amenities will differ depending on the standard of luxury and cost associated. Special aspects may include his and her gowns, slippers, chocolates on the bed, catered breakfast, prepared dinners as well as personalised collection from the airport or even tours.

If you want the roam of an area and prefer to cater for yourself, Self Catering would be ideal for you.

Hotels offers 24 hour service and may be considered less of a personal touch than the guest houses.

Areas include Camps Bay, Noordhoek, Simons Town, Clifton, Constantia, Pinelands, Rosebank, Tamboerskloof, Waterfront, Durbanville and more.

Depending on what you will be doing and where you will be going when you visit Cape Town, a range of Accommodation in Cape Town is available.

Visit Guest Files to find Cape Town Accommodation [http://www.guestfiles.co.za/search2.asp?province=Western Cape&area=Cape Town] and Accommodation in Cape Town [http://www.guestfiles.co.za] as well as all your other Southern African tourism needs.

It is encouraged to visit Cape Town to see some of the world's greatest offerings.

Guest Files supports responsible and respectful tourism as well as conservation. Find South African Accommodation, including Cape West Coast Accommodation, Overberg Accommodation, Cape Winelands Accommodation, Garden Route Accommodation, as well as all your South African Accommodation.

Also subscribe to our free newsletter distributed every two weeks containing interesting tourism attractions in Southern Africa, South African Accommodation specials, tourism specials and more.

The 5 Best Medium Sized Ohio Cities to Live In

Top 5 Medium Cities to Live in Ohio:

The criteria was simple. I excluded any towns that were basically suburbs of bigger cities. This is just for the stand alone cities. Excluded are Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron/Canton, Dayton, Toledo and all of the suburbs of those cities.

1. Marysville - With Scot's and Honda plants in the area, plus only being a 30 minute drive from Columbus, Marysville gives you a small town feel but keeps you close enough that you can have the big city feel as well.

2. Sandusky - America's Roller Coast is located on Lake Erie, and is known mostly for Cedar Point. This tourist attraction is one of the biggest in the country. The city is nestled in-between Toledo and Cleveland for easy access.

3. Athens - With the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains taking over most of southeast Ohio, Athens emerges as a welcomed blend of people thanks in large part to Ohio University. The town is a little dead in the summer months, but a variety of activities are available during the school year for all ages.

4. Marietta - Ohio's oldest city is also one of the state's best kept secret. Much like Athens, it has a college, albeit a much smaller one. The city is set on the banks of the Ohio River and has a New England feel to it.

5. Circleville - Like Marysville, it is about a half an hour from Columbus. Originally built in the shape of a circle, it ditched that for a more conventional look. However, it is home to the "Greatest Free Show on Earth," The Pumpkin Show, which brings in close to a million visitors each year in October.

Mark Parachas has just launched a new site about cheap car stereos, where he tells you all about the best MP3 car audio and many other things related to the wonderful world of stereos.

The Ancient Town of Lijiang, Yunnan - A Forgotten Kingdom

Lijiang, a mystical and idyllic ancient city in the northwest of Yunnan Province, surrounded by the verdant mountains, woven by watercourses and crossed by more than 300 bridges. It is the gateway to northwest Yunnan region, and No.214 national highway traverses the city to Tibet in the north or to Dali City in the south, capital of the autonomous prefecture.

The Ancient City of Lijiang has been famous for its typical architectures with different racial features, peculiar flagstone roads, mystic religion, hieroglyph, scripture, dance and sweet ancient music since it was built during the late years of Southern Song Dynasty and the early years of Yuan Dynasty, In addition, it also has long been known world wide for its grandiose snow-covered mountains, the steep gorge, the elegant Mt. Laojun, the clean Lugu Lake, and the colorful and various customs of the minorities. The outside world is amazed at its ancient and simple sense of "identity of Heaven and Human" and surprised by the ancestors of the minorities who built a city without a wall on the beautiful paradise of Lijiang at this southwest borderland. In December of 1997, it was registered on World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO, and this "city forgotten by gods" was unveiled to the world with its oriental mystery and glamour like a bright diamond hidden in the mountains.

Traditions of Naxi Nationality

As one of the 56 nationalities in China, the Naxi nationality is very different from the others. First, in the tradition of Naxi people, man is considered the sky whereas woman is the land. The matriarchal clan society of ancient Naxi people has lasted for a long time, and the present women of this minority are still manage the affairs both inside and outside their home, thus the peculiar custom of this ancient city where women in charge of all while men are idle.

The marital custom of the Naxi people is peculiar. Men and women don't get married. When a girl is about to fall in love with a man, she will make sheep's eyes at the man when appropriate. Then the man is allowed to spend the nights with the girl, but he must take a straw hat, a knife and a rice ball with him when he starts. The rice ball is for distracting the dog from the girl's house, the knife is used to open the bolt of the girl's room, and the straw hat is hung on the door as a mark that the girl is falling in love and cohabiting with a man. Before day break, the man must leave the girl's room.

Usually, a Naxi man can cohabit with several women in his lifetime but cannot cohabite with several women at the same time. And in the Naxi tradition, the grandmother of a family has the last word and uncles are responsible for bringing up of his sisters' children.

Mystic Dongba Culture of Naxi Nationality

Dongba culture is fairy independent and mysterious as compared to those of other minorities in China. It remained unnoticed until some Dongba scriptures were took to Europe by a French missionary Pere Desgodins and two British in mid19thcentury. Especially, in1920s, botanist Joseph Rock, an Austro-American came to Lijiang and took a massive volume of Dongba manuscripts back home to sell to the museums. This turned Dongba culture a hot subject of study in the west. Nowadays an increasing number of western scholars or enthusiasts keep on coming to explore this mystic culture.

I. Dongba Religion

Dongba religion worshipped many gods and believed that everything was animate. In its development the religion was influenced by Tibetan Bon, Buddhism, and Taoism. It didn't have a unified organization of temples, but and ample stock of written scripture and complicated ceremonies, which exerted manifold effects on the life of Naxi people.

II.Dongba Scripture

The manuscripts of Dongba scriptures were written in Dongba hieroglyph. There are so many of them that the exact number is impossible to know. Their content ranges over linguistics, literature, religion, custom, history, art, philosophy, astronomy and calendar, actually an encyclopedia of ancient Naxi people. As part of the ancient civilization of China, Dongba scripture holds great value to study.

III.Dongba Hieroglyph

It was an amazing creation of Naxi ancestors, a hieroglyph born in the 11th century. In this language, the meaning is conveyed by one or more symbols as a sentence, reading from left to right and from the upper to the lower. As an exceptionally precious heritage, it is "the only living hieroglyph still in use in the present world". Now, Donba pictograph is easily seen everywhere in the ancient city, on the shop's trade mark or brand, in calligraphy or painting, on crafts or little commodities, even on table ares.

IV.Naxi Ancient Music

This is a classic music wildly popular in Naxi Nationality and extolled as a "living fossil of Chinese music" and the "sound from paradise", one of the oldest survivors in the world. It originated from the music of Taoism about 500-600 years ago. This music has been added the play techniques of Naxi people, featured in playing all the rarely heard works in Tang (618-907A.D) and Song (960-1279A.D) dynasties, the over-100-year old music instruments which cannot find in elsewhere, and the old players who are about 70-80 in age from all walks of life. Now this old, elegant, serious, and folk-rooted music has attracted thousands upon thousands of ears to listen to.

Captivating Attractions Nearby

The Ancient City of Lijiang is girdled by a host of attractive and wondrous attractions. After experiencing the city, you should not miss the rewarding explorations below because they offer you the mind-blowing landscapes found in the world.

I. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

This mountain is 15km north of Lijiang City, a modern oceanic glacier nearest to the equator in Northern Hemisphere, and a state-level tourist site in China. This mountain has 13 peaks extending for 35km from north to south, along side the deepest gorge in the world-the Tiger Leaping Gorge. It is snowcapped all the year, with grandeur and sublime. Fan Steep, its main peak, is 5,596 meters height above sea-level straight piercing the sky. The mountain is precipitous, picturesque, and peculiar, charming with the scenery sites of Yunshan Spruce Meadow, River of White Water, Ganhaizi Lake, Serac Forest, and so forth, to make the mountain a tourists' resort for sight seeing, exploration, scientific survey, or just vacation enjoyment.

II.the First Bend of Yangtze River

This famous bend formed in Shigu (Stone Drum) Township of Lijiang City when the longest river in China, Yangtze River flows by and makes a sharp turn. Standing near this bend, you can see the green hills, high mountains, beautiful terraced rice field.

III.Tiger Leaping Gorge

The deepest gorge of the world formed for the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain are cut by Jinsha River. It is 18km north of Lijiang City, between peaks of over 3,000m above the river, which is 80m or more at the widest, or only about 30m at the narrowest, a most dangerous section of Yangtze River about 17km long. At the entrance right in the middle of the river has a lying huge rock, and the rushing water has to squeeze through a 13m passage at both sides. Legend says that tigers often leap to the other side of the river by this rock, thus the gorge earns this name. A more recently discovery is the ancient rock paintings on cliffs of the gorge, which add wonders to the grand gorge of the world.

IV.Mt. Laojun

At the east side of Mt. Laojun, there is topography of red sandstone of over 200k¡ is found. The charm is that the sun seems also fond of the beautiful scene and reluctant to go, and therefore it seems to rise and set for three mimes here each day, an amazing wonder pleasantly termed as Scenery Dawning.

In this tourist site, the Ninety-nine Dragong Ponds, the god of Supreme Laojun, and the topography of red sandstone are regarded as the top three treasures. In addition, there are plenty more other interesting places like Mt. Jinsichang, South Heaven Gate, Azalea Bush, Yellow Dragon Pool, Meile Peach Garden, Mountain of Five Immortals, Buddha Rock in Morning Sunshine, Mountain of Bird King, Ninety-nine Dragon Ponds, Black Dragon Pool, Sishiluo, and Anqilin.

V.Baisha Old Murals

Baisha Township (8km from Lijang) are preserved quite some ancient buildings, and the famous Baisha murals are stored in these buildings such as Glaze Hall, Dabaoji Place, and Dading Pavalion etc. The themes of the murals are mainly religion. They were drawn in about 600 years ago, very characteristic of the painting in Tang and Song Dynasties and those of Naxi, Tibetan, and Bai minorities.

Recommended Yunnan Tours including Kunming, Dali, Lijiang:

Day 1:

Upon your arrival at Kunming, "the Spring and Flower City", our local guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure

Day 2:

Sightseeing: West Hill and Dragon Gate,The Grand View Park (Daguan Park)
After breakfast, you will have a half-day city tour including the West Hill and Dragon Gate, and Grand View Park. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore this city by yourself.

Day 3:

Sightseeing: Erhai Lake, The Old Dali Town, Three Pagodas, Xizhou Bai Minority Village
After breakfast, be transferred to Dali and take the morning bus to there. The visit today in this lovely city includes cruise on Erhai, Xizhou Bai Minority Village, Three Pagodas and the Dali Ancient Town.and then enjoy the dinner with our Bai Minority people!

Day 4:

Sightseeing: Heqing Village & Xinhua Village,Lijiang Ancient Town,Lion Hill
In the morning, drive to Lijiang (3-hour drive), along the way, you will stop by the Heqing County, pay a visit to Heqing Villages & Xinhua Village. Upon your arrival at Lijiang County, you will have an excursion to the Ancient Town and the Lion Hill

Day 5:

Sightseeing: Baisha Mural Paintings, Black Dragon Pool Park, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Today you will enjoy a full day trip to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Baisha Mural Paintings and the Black Dragon Pool Park.

Day 6:

Enjoy your free time before you are transferred back to Kunming by bus. And then enjoy a local dinner in the village with Miao, we will arrange the bus for you group in the evening.

China Odyssey Tours specialize in providing package China tours, discount Yangtze River cruises and best rate hotels.

Cheap Flights to Cape Town - FIFA World Cup 2010

Cape Town is the most populous city and provincial capital of Western Cape. Here diverse range of attractions, sights and activities to offer. It is regarded as a melting point for various different cultures in Southern Africa. Known as Mother City, it has an abundance of contrasting activities from lounging on the Atlantic seaboard's popular beaches to exploring the vividly painted area of the Bo-Kaap.

As everyone is aware that South Africa is going to host FIFA world cup 2010, Cape Town is one of the cities hosting this grand event. This grand event is going to be held between 11 June 2010 and 11 July 2010. Matches in Cape Town are going to held Greenpoint Stadium. Here is the schedule of the matches that are going to be held in Cape Town:

11 June 2010
Match: Team A3 vs Team A4

14 June 2010
Match: Team F1 vs Team F2

18 June 2010
Match: Team C1 vs Team C3

21 June 2010
Match: Team G4 vs Team G2

24 June 2010
Match: Team E4 vs Team E1

Search cheap flights for FIFA World Cup 2010; choose the most suitable cheap deal for your travel. Airfares to Cape Town were never so cheap earlier as they are now. Enjoy the most exciting historic event, first ever football world cup in South Africa.

Many airlines have reduced airfares for the flights to Cape Town. Different airlines are offering different airfares. Fares offered by some of the airlines providing cheap flights to Cape Town are as follows:
Emirate Airways 1-Oct-2009 31-Dec-2009 £535 with 30 Kgs Baggage
Qatar Airways 1-Oct-2009 10-Dec-2009 £439 with 20 Kgs Baggage
Etihad Airways 15-Jan-2010 19-Mar-2009 £520 with 20Kgs Baggage
Iberia Airways 1-Oct-2009 30-Nov-2009 £434 with 20 Kgs Baggage

Business class airfares:-

Emirates: 01 Oct 09- 31 Dec 09 £2149, 01 Jan 10 - 31 Dec 10 £2149 with 40kg baggage
South African Airways: 01 Oct 09- 31 Dec 09 £2770, 01 Jan 10 - 31 Mar 10 £2770 with 30kg baggage
Qatar Airways: 01 Oct 09- 10 Dec 09 £1629, 24 Dec 09 - 25 Mar 10 £1629 with 30kg baggage
Turkish Airlines: 01 Oct 09- 31 Dec 09 £1655, 01 Jan 10 - 31 Mar 10 £1655 with 30kg baggage

It is the most visited international tourist destination in South Africa.

Robert Moore has been offering Cheap Flights and FIFA World Cup 2010 flights for quite some time. To find cheap flights for FIFA World Cup, cheap flights to cape town for FIFA World Cup, flights for FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup flights [http://www.cheapflightstocapetown.org.uk/fifa-world-cup-2010.php]. Available flights for FIFA World Cup that best suits your needs visit [http://www.cheapflightstocapetown.org.uk].

Cape Town Apartments For Rent

Cape Town, South Africa's Mother City, has become one of the most sought after holiday destinations in the world. And no wonder, for this cosmopolitan paradise is a jewel set in the heart of the country's Western Cape, described by the 16th Century mariner Sir Francis Drake as "the fairest cape in all the world". It is no wonder then that Cape Town apartments to rent suit every pocket.

For the ultimate of luxury a three bedroom penthouse apartment with every conceivable convenience can set you back as little as R9,000 a day, whilst you can expect to pay twice that figure for a rented villa. The city attracts rich and poor alike with its exciting nightlife, spectacular beaches and colourful culture. It is no wonder that this rare cultural gem has been added to the list of the world's most iconic destinations, the National Geographic Magazine having described it as a destination that every astute traveler should visit at least once in their lifetime.

When anyone mentions the name of this magnificent city, thoughts immediately turn to the prominent and famous Table Mountain that serves as its backdrop. Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles, the mountain range that stretches down the Atlantic side of the city, divide it into its various districts.

The coastline is dotted with numerous small villages that form the city's suburbs, and Cape Town apartments to rent can be found in all of these areas and in parts of the magnificent Cape Peninsula that stretches down to Cape Point in the extreme South. At the top end of the scale there are five star Cape Town apartments to rent, mainly targeted at overseas' tourists - but there are plenty of other affordable and very comfortable apartments - also star graded for quality standard assurance - to rent for both leisure and corporate use in all areas of this breathtaking Mother City.

Lucky Mamome is a freelance journalist.

All Buildings and Homes Should Be Built Earthquake Proof!

Why should all houses built from now on be built to withstand the shakes of the most violent of earthquakes? All of a sudden we are having very large earthquakes. In fact, we have earthquakes on a daily basis, sometimes 50 per day or 20,000 a year according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). However, their magnitudes are too small for us to feel them, (USGS). In addition, many earthquakes occur in remote areas of the world where people don't live, (USGS). The first big one in quite some time was the one in the Indian Ocean that triggered the largest tsunami in recent memory, which took thousands of lives and destroyed cities and towns.

As recently as May 12, 2008, a massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook down buildings and caused thousands of lives to be lost in the Sichuan province of China. In just a couple of months taken from the destruction in China caused by a large earthquake, is the huge 7.0 magnitude trembler in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti--January 12, 2010, the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

Earthquakes occurring in the ocean do not pose a threat by themselves. They are only threatening when they trigger tsunamis; in which case, we cannot do much about. However, massive destruction and loss of lives from earthquakes occurring on land are preventable to a certain extent.

Earthquake-proof constructions should be the norm when erecting buildings anywhere in the world, regardless of whether they are public buildings or private homes. It was said that buildings in Sichuan China where the 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck, were not earthquake proof. This is why such wide-spread damage occurred.

China is one of the richest countries in the world, and they had a tough time coping with the destruction caused by their earthquake. Homes and buildings in Sichuan China were not earthquake proof, so they suffered grave damages. Schools, hospitals, and homes were destroyed in large numbers. Can one imagine the impact that the recent earthquake in Haiti will have on its economy?

The main reason why it is a wise idea to erect buildings that are earthquake proof is that Mother Earth is going through changes that she has always gone through, in regards to the shifting of tectonic plates within the Earth's crust; however, those tectonic changes occurred centuries ago. This is the reason why we hadn't experience them in modern times, until now. Now is the time for those Earthly changes to start occurring again. This is probably the way Mother Earth grows. The Earth is considered living also, in its own way. It has energy that is released each time there is a shift in the tectonic plates beneath the Earth. Why in the past earthquakes cause less destruction than they do today?

In the past, people lived in rural areas of the world. However, as industrialization became the main stay of today's world, people migrated to where industrialization manifests itself, and that is in the cities. Therefore, massive earthquakes in the past did less damage than they do today because there were next to no densely populated areas of the world at that time. However, in today's world, cities are densely populated- a result of overpopulation--Mass exodus of people migrated to inner cities in the quest of finding jobs. This trend of people migrating to cities will not end any time soon.

Large and destructive earthquakes are inevitable and are occurring more often in the world today, so both nature and people are on an inevitable collision course. The loser in this confrontation is people, obviously. Nevertheless, we can be the loser of such confrontations, yet live to tell the tales, by surviving of course. How will we be able to survive the next big earthquake? We know they are coming! In the case of Haiti, large earthquakes have historically shown their devastating effects in years past. Years 1860, 1770, 1761, 1751, 1684, 1673, and 1618 have seen their share of massive earthquakes, (USGS).

Humans will be able to survive the next big earthquake if we prepare. We can prepare for the next round of magnitude 7.0 or 8.0 earthquakes if we build our countries' infrastructure to withstand earthquakes of such magnitudes and higher. We have the technology to send solar powered vehicle to mars, so we definitely have the technological know-how to build earthquake proof infrastructures in our cities, towns, and country sides.

Poor countries such as Haiti would not have the means with which to build special earthquake-proof homes and public buildings, such as schools, post offices, libraries, etc. However, this is where other wealthy countries can give a helping hand by donating funds to subsidize such efforts.

Now is the time to start taking earthquakes seriously and the time to start taking steps in preparing for them, so our buildings and homes can be left standing long after they have come and gone. Large destructive earthquakes will always be with us. They are certainly not going away anytime soon! If anything, they are coming at us fast and furious-Sichuan, China: May 12, 2008-Port-Au-Prince, Haiti: January 12, 2010.

Glenford S Robinson, BS, CLS (ASCP), is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Journalist (American Chronicle), and Staff Writer for Mstardom.com [http://www.myspacestardom.com], a social networking website and articles directory providing members and visitors with up-to-the-minute news and entertainment and the opportunity to submit articles and promotional blogs for free.

Selling Your Hometown: Writing Travel Articles About Your Own Town

People love to travel. Whether it is to large, ancient cities visited by millions of tourists each year, or cosy little bread-and-breakfast towns-people love to go out into the world to discover what it has to offer. No wonder tourism makes a significant portion of the revenues of many towns.

If you're looking to put your town on the map, writing travel articles is a great way to reach travellers. The birth and growth of the Internet has significantly changed the way we gather and disseminate information. These days, one can do a simple search for a holiday destination and be rewarded with literally millions of travel articles. The good news is, by the same vein, what you write about your hometown can reach thousands of readers from all over the world; it's just a matter of great writing and proper marketing.

People read travel articles with a single goal: information. People love learning about their place of interest, and knowing what to expect when they get there. They appreciate recommendations on where to stay and what sites to see, events and activities they can participate in, great restaurants and the local delicacies, 'what the town is famous for', and other helpful information, including famous residents and sites of historical significance. The more someone can learn about your hometown, the more excited they will be about visiting this new place and the more comfortable they will feel about making the journey. Therefore, doing your research is important. The more information you have, the better you can sell your product.

When listing the selling points of your town in your travel articles, remember that people are multi-faceted. They have different interests and passions, and travel for different reasons. Towns or cities are the same-they all have different facets and points of interest. Many travel magazines and blogs ask for general information, whereas others prefer more-targeted, special-interest information, such as the local cuisine or local events and festivals. Providing the right information for the right market is therefore crucial. For example, when writing for budget travel magazines, consider giving recommendations on safe but affordable accommodations, great but cheap food, and free attractions.

However, as helpful as facts and figures are, what sells a destination is its unique charm and characteristics-a personality that is only its own-and the history and experiences it offers to visitors. As someone who loves your hometown, you are in the best position to tell the story of your town, make it come alive to your readers, and invite them to become part of it. Write passionately about what makes it unique and why you and your fellow residents love it, and you won't help but produce a compelling article. What you do with it it then is up to you!

Laura Jeeves is a London based travel writer with several years' experience in the industry. She works freelance, producing many excellent travel articles [http://www.journeywithoutmaps.co.uk] from her extensive adventures through many countries across the globe.

Studying English Abroad: Why Not Cape Town, South Africa?

Top Places across the World

Lovers of English Literature, looking to pursue higher studies in English, tend to follow the route to the renowned universities in the world like Oxford, Cambridge - the best places to study English Literature - and even Harvard among other American universities, which has world class reputation. India is also a great place for Literature lovers planning higher studies in English Literature, with not one but numerous universities offering different courses, including JNU and University of Delhi - one the very best across the globe. But due to limited seats in those leading Universities to study English, along with the high cost, many students dig deeper to find other locations to study English, which are comparatively cheaper than and are as effective as those top more expensive peddlers of a good education in the study of English Literature. Places in the entire Australasia opens up other options for students to study English Literature as they offer good courses at minimal cost coupled with affordable living expenses.

Things That Matter

Work permit along with the student visa is something that affects the priority for almost all students who seek education in a foreign country.

Specialization and research in certain areas also attracts students from different countries to specific destinations. For example, universities across the United States of America specifically attract students from all over the world, willing to pursue American Literature and Modernism in particular. Students studying in the United States also have the potential to experience better living conditions, advanced course material and tuition assistance and the potential for lucrative part-time work.

Studying English in Cape Town

Your dreams to pursue the study of English Literature abroad can be achieved quite easily in Cape Town - the coastal city on the southwestern side of South Africa. This foremost university in Africa - the University of Cape Town - has one of the best English Departments in the world. It is among the best places to pursue Postcolonial Literature. University of Cape Town gets numerous applications from all over the world every year. The city also features not one but many language schools which offer distinct courses in English Language. The city's beauty is one of the main reasons students from all over the world wish to study here.

Higher Studies at UCT

University of Cape Town is listed at 103rd spot on the rankings of 2010-2011 issued by the Times Group for the best universities in the world. It is also featured on the list of QS World University Rankings at the 156th position in the year 2011. Holding the top spot among all universities within Africa, UCT offers various courses for scholars of English Literature. The faculty features Nobel Laureate J.M. Coetzee as well as eminent film critic and Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Ebert, among its alumni. The University of Cape Town promises quality education for each student it admits. Apart from a highly diversified undergrad course, the university offers post-graduate programs ranging from Creative Writing to Linguistics. Research scholars in English Literature also have options at UCT to pursue their area of interest in an environment full of renowned scholars and philosophers. The University also has a spectacular placement record for both graduate and post graduate students, which promises great career opportunities.

Other Universities and Language Schools in Cape Town

The University of Western Cape, in Cape Town, offers similar courses in English and attracts numerous scholars from all over the world. The Department of English here, is particularly famous for Post-Colonial studies and South African Literature, is one of the very best in the world. Other premier centers to study English in Cape Town include the University of Stellenbosch and different language schools such as the English Language School, located in the heart of the city. The Language schools in Cape Town are well respected worldwide and attract thousands of non English speakers to pursue different English language courses. Courses range from General English to Business English offered at different language schools in Cape Town see applications in great numbers, particularly from tourists of non-English speaking countries looking to learn English. Those eminent places not only guarantees quality education but also promise great placement in top institutions across the world. The low cost of living in Cape Town also makes it one of the most hospitable places for foreign students.

Student Visa and Work Permit

Acquiring a visa to study in South Africa can be easily accomplished with an application over on the internet. It is one of the first things any applicant must get in order to get admitted to courses in universities across South Africa. A South African student visa comes with a year's validity, however the time period of visa is increased depending upon the duration of the course. The student visa generally allows the student to work for 20 hours a week, which will come in handy for those who are somewhat financially challenged.

Although hourly compensation in South Africa for foreign students is not exorbitant as illegal immigrants from all over Africa flock to South Africa in search of a better life and this tends to depress the low skilled wage levels, a student can still expect about 20 South Africa Rand 20 per hour, which comes in handy to assist with living expenses in Cape Town.

Beauty of Cape Town

Cape Town is a great place for any young person to spend a few years. There is a vibrant nightlife, along with awesome beaches and world class safari is never far away.

This city, located just next to a picturesque mountain range, follows the coastline of a beautiful ocean. The city has great amenities like transportation, hospitals and restaurants within close proximity. Cape Town is one of the best locations in the world to study English, from the Pre University to doctoral level.

As you can see, Cape Town is not only a spectacular destination to live and vacation, but it is also an awesome destination for foreign students to study.

Neil Schmidth writes about tourism in Africa and other places across the globe. His recent tour to Cape Town with Palace Travel has left him in much of the city as a destination to study English, which triggered the idea for this article.

The UK - Main Cities & Towns

When we think of the main cities & towns in the UK, the first city that comes to our mind is London. This English capital city is among the most fascinating tourist destinations in the world. The city is famous for its red double-decker buses, the River Thames, the Big Ben, and a host of historical monuments. It a culturally rich city in which you will love the Shakespeare's Globe, St Paul's Cathedral, Palace of Westminster, the Trafalgar Square, and plenty of other famous attractions. Some of the beautiful cities and towns located near London are Oxford, Cambridge, Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Bath, Brighton, and Windsor.

Another famous city in the UK is Bath, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of it stunning architectural attractions like the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge, various museums and several other attractions. It is also well known for its wealth of hot springs, Roman Baths, and plenty of monuments. Salisbury is a popular destination in the country, which is popular among tourists for many interesting places. The Old Sarum on Castle Road was actually a hill fort that dates back to the Iron Age. You can also view historical attractions Salisbury Cathedral, The Bishop's Palace, Mompesson House, Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, and The Chapter House.

The beautiful town of Basingstoke, along the southern coast is an important financial center, which has the oldest British motoring organization known as AA. You should drop into the famous shopping complex known as Festival Place as it sell some of the best fashionable items in the country. Northampton is another scenic town, which is known as the market town in England. Here you will come across some well-maintained parks like Thorntons Park, Delapre Park, Abington Park, Victoria Park, and Becket's Park.

In order to explore other famous towns and cities such as Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, York, Brighton, Cambridge, and Liverpool with ease you can book van hire UK.

Van Hire 3000 have some great deals on van hire right across the UK.

Motorcycle Touring - Become a World Traveler Without Leaving the United States

The idea of traveling overseas by motorcycle fascinates many American motorcyclists. Just thinking about motorcycling in Sumatra, England or Morocco stirs the emotions. But reality sets in quickly as questions come to mind, how do I learn to drive there, how do I protect myself, what shots do I need and how do I get a passport? Then you ask yourself, "Can I afford it?" There is an inexpensive way and, as a bonus, you already know the language.

Motorcycle journeys are only limited by the imagination of the rider. A journey may be a simple day trip of 100 miles or a cross-country ride covering thousands. World travel is measured, not in miles, but by continents, countries, oceans or islands visited. If you live in New York, it's possible to visit 4 continents, 13 countries, and 8 islands without leaving the state. Now that's a journey!

Imagine the water fountain conversation on Monday morning when you say that you rode your motorcycle to the Caribbean over the weekend. You can tell everyone about the people and architecture in Bermuda, (Georgia) or Jamaica, (Virginia) and give them a history lesson about Grenada, (Mississippi).

Our forefathers named many of our cities after foreign countries: 219 cities and 64 countries. Forty-three states have cities with country names. Would you have ever guessed that San Marino, California is named after the third deed holder's, grandfather's plantation in Maryland which was named after the country of San Marino? The town of Japan, Missouri took its name from a local Catholic church, the Holy Martyrs of Japan. Many towns, such as Ireland, West Virginia, home of the sport of Irish Road Bowling, get their names in a more common way, from their first settler's home country. These are some of the pleasant mysteries tucked away in cities and towns across America.

Cities and towns have a genealogy as people do. Who settled the town? Where did they come from? Does the culture of the town today resemble that of the one it is named for? Did it ever? Part of the genealogy of a town is its cuisine. Do restaurants in Egypt, Arkansas offer ful mudammas? Can you order blini in Russia, Ohio?

The idea of foreign travel is fascinating, but in this brief look around the United States we see towns with mystery and charm which compare with any overseas. You can experience every cuisine, climate, culture and type of geography on earth without leaving the United States. I'll see you at the poetry festival in Montserrat, (Missouri).

To learn more about this motorcycle tour and many others including GPS and printable file downloads, please visit Journey America Motorcycling Patches at [http://www.JourneyAmericaPatches.com]